2020 – A New year!
A new year is always a time to take stock, to think about things, and plan and scheme! This year is going to be one of change for me. I’ve finally taken back the rights to half my books from Simon and Schuster and will be working with a number of other publishers to market … Continue reading
Reporting Hatred
This morning I received an email. It came through at 08.40, and was long. Very long. Ten pages long. I won’t put up the bile-infected rant; there is no way I want to promote his lunatic theories. Suffice it to say, every terrorist attack, every rape and murder, pretty much, is entirely the responsibility of … Continue reading
Wednesday 20th
I have loved decent keyboards for many years. It’s a natural affiliation for someone who uses them every single day, really. If you go and see this video, you can win this very keyboard: https://youtu.be/k_gb9g26hcw (after 5.00 PM). Back in the 1980s, when I was a callow computer salesman, I grew to know and love … Continue reading
Back to Work
It’s been a hectic year, again. I suppose I ought to apologise for the radio silence in the last few months, but … well, there’s not enough hours in the day. My YouTube channel has been taking off in recent months. It suffered last year (as did this blog) because my family has had the … Continue reading
I’ve Lost My Editor!
The last weeks have been more than usually busy. I’m currently working on a new book which is close to being completed which will take me in a new direction – which is why (apologies to agent here) I’m late! Still, I think it’ll be done by the end of this week. Which is good, … Continue reading
Getting to the End…
One of those days when concentrating is difficult: I have to work around the family, getting a new tent sealed ready for a three day hike, walking the dogs, writing up the short list and winner of a prize, deal with emails and phone calls … and it’s not easy. The simple fact is, as … Continue reading
Writing Lessons 10 – Students And Novelists
This one is for students going to university – either first years or postgraduates – as well as aspiring novelists: keep it simple! I spent two years fairly recently helping students at Exeter University with their communication skills, working for the Royal Literary Fund’s Fellowship Scheme. It was a great experience, although very daunting. After … Continue reading
Writing Lessons 9
Today I have been working on a new story, and I’ve got to the magical stage of about 90,000 words, which means that I’m on the easier, downhill slopes and almost at the end of the first draft. Perhaps this is a good time to think about how things are going. I’ve already spoken about … Continue reading
Writing Lessons 8
Okay, so what happens when it all goes horribly wrong? You are sitting down, the writing has been a blast, and you have a brilliant first stage written. It felt great, it reads really well. But now, you have a problem. This was supposed to be a romcom, but it’s gone all black and dangerous. … Continue reading
Writing Lessons 7
It is a very odd thing, that writers will often miss whole weeks of life. When you are writing from a specific point of view, you become so utterly immersed in that person’s life, that you cannot exist in the real world at the same time. Your partner will get used to grumbles and muttered … Continue reading
writerlywitterings 